What's the difference between a schooner and other boats?

Answer 1

A Schooner is a multi-masted sailing vessel as contrasted with a Sloop or Catboat which has one mast. A Schooner has a Foremast in front of the Mainmast that is shorter (or the same height) as the Mainmast. A Ketch has a Mizzenmast that is shorter than the Mainmast aft of the main but in front of the rudder post. A Yawl has a small Mizzenmast aft of the rudder post. Some Schooners have Mizzenmasts also. The principal difference between a schooner and other multi-masted sailing vessels is the fact that the sails of a schooner are primarily fore-and-aft rigged, meaning the sails are parallel to the body of the vessel; other multi-masted sailing vessels are primarily square-rigged, meaning they have sails that are principally positioned perpendicular to the body of the vessel. The difference lies in their uses: a fore-and-aft rigged vessel is most valuable in the coasting trade where it plies coastal waters up and down a shoreline. Square-rigged vessels are more useful for trans-oceanic voyages, and generally require a larger crew than fore-and-aft rigged vessels.